Device for the attachment and adaptation of elastic box type watch straps to watches

ABSTRACT

A device composed of:  
     a double stirrup structure ( 1 ), with two slots ( 2 ) having an appropriate length for connecting to the open ring shaped strip ( 3 ) of the components of the elastic box type bracelet ( 4 ), with which the device is intended to connect;  
     two parts ( 5 ), each constituted of a first tubular element ( 6 )—intended to house the system of telescope pivot pins through which it couples with the holes on the watch bracket to which it is aimed—and of a second element ( 10 ), which is made to wrap around a stud on the double stirrup ( 1 ) or on the visible stud of the box like structure ( 12 ) of the end component of the elastic box type bracelet ( 4 ), intended to act as a watch strap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention concerns a device by means of which elastic boxtype watch straps are adjusted and attached to watch brackets.

[0002] Known prior art elastic box type watch straps—normally made witha steel structure of the type used to manufacture bracelets—end with twomechanisms for their attachment, one on each extremity, provided withtelescope pivot pins, which are meant to be coupled with the holes onthe watch attachment brackets. The first of these two mechanisms,mentioned above, consists of a tubular structure equipped with a juttingstirrup, by means of which it couples with the open, sliding, ringshaped strip of the elastic component of the watch strap. The second ofthese two joining mechanisms, mentioned above, is composed of a tubularstructure combined with a small tube, open along one axis of thegeneratrix, with which it wraps around and holds the visible stud at oneend of the box shaped structure of the elastic component of the watchstrap. The two above mentioned attachment devices are normallymanufactured by stamping the metal plate and are permanently coupledwith the corresponding elements of the elastic component of the watchstrap, so much so that one can consider the ends of the watch strap tobe tightly connected to the attachment devices and any operation aimedat modifying the length of the strap is carried at its mid point and notat said ends.

[0003] The substitution of the watch strap with another having adifferent width, can be carried out only by retailers who sell andreplace the complete watch strap, and not by standard watch andjewellery retailers. Even if these latter retailers, sell the elasticbox type watch straps, they do not normally carry those that areoriginally equipped with the correct attachment devices for the watchwhose strap must be substituted.

[0004] On the other hand, if these attachments are missing at theextremities, the normal box type elastic watch straps cannot beconnected to the watch brackets. This is due to the fact that saidattachments, required to connect the elastic bracelets to the watches,cannot be the same in all cases, since one of them must connect, on oneend with the watch brackets and on the other with the visible stud onthe box type structure of the elastic bracelet components. The otherattachment must connect, on one end with the other watch bracket and onthe other it must join with the open, sliding, ring shaped strip of thelatest elastic component of the watch strap. The two attachments,therefore, must be matching on one side (connection to the watch), andon the other it must be different to be able to connect to the twoextremities of the elastic bracelet and at the same time they should notcreate an asymmetric balance on the same attachments.

[0005] Due to this situation, there is an absence, on the market, ofattachments that are separate and distinct from the elastic box typestructures with which the ring shaped bracelets are actually produced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] One of the aims of this invention is that of creating anattachment device that allows it to connect on one side with one watchbracket and on the other side with the end component of the elastic boxtype structure with which the bracelet is made. This, independently fromthe fact that the attachment point on the bracelet is the visible studof the end component of the elastic box type structure of the bracelet,or the open, sliding, ring shaped strip of said component. Therefore,independently from the extremity of the said component facing theattachment device.

[0007] Another aim of the present invention is that of creating anattachment device that is simple and has a low cost, so as to give tothe watch buyer a plurality of attachments which have the appropriatewidth to connect to the brackets of the watch he has bought and whichallow the connection to elastic bracelets of different widths so as saidbuyer can use the same watch with bracelets having different widths.

[0008] Finally, another aim is that of producing a device that can beapplied on to the brackets of the owned or bought watch and which canconnect to the normal elastic box type structure bracelets that are verycommon and therefore can be found in all jewellery and watch shops.

[0009] The invention which has allowed us to obtain these resultsconsists of:

[0010] a double stirrup structure, with the two slots having anappropriate length for coupling with the open ring shaped strip of thecomponents of the elastic box type structure bracelets with which saiddouble stirrup structure must connect;

[0011] two parts, normally alike, each one made of a first tubularelement—housing the system of telescope pivot pins by means of which itcouples with the holes on the watch brackets—and of a second element,permanently joined to the first one, capable of wrapping around the studof the double stirrup or the visible stud of the elastic box typestructure of the end component of the elastic bracelet that is to beused as a watch bracelet.

[0012] This type of device allows the two parts, that are normallyalike, to be advantageously applied to the two watch brackets, so as toobtain a symmetric attachment. One of said parts is appropriate forconnecting with the visible stud of the elastic box type structure ofthe component at the first extremity of the bracelet. The other part isappropriate for the direct connection to the double stirrup structureand, through said structure, with the open, sliding, ring shaped stripof the component at the second extremity of the watch strap.

[0013] Another advantage of the present invention is due to the factthat it is technically easy to produce at low cost.

[0014] The same watch can therefore be furnished with various devices ofdiffering widths which allow it to be connected to bracelets of varyingwidths, permitting, in this way, the owner of the said watch with saiddevices, to change the watch strap with another obtained by opening anyclose ring like elastic box type bracelet, that can be bought in nearlyall jewellery and watch shops.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The invention will be easily understood in its structure andfunction by following the detailed description below, and which refersto the preferred embodiment that is reproduced in the drawings of theenclosed table, in which:

[0016]FIG. 1 is the front view of the components of the device of thisinvention;

[0017]FIG. 2 is the view on the direction of the axis of one of the twocomponents of the invention that are alike;

[0018]FIG. 3 is the front view of one of the two components that arealike, in which the two open tubular trunks have a different length fromthe corresponding ones reproduced in FIG. 1;

[0019]FIG. 4 is the front view of one of the two components that arealike in which the two open tubular trunks have a further differinglength from the corresponding ones reproduced in the other figures;

[0020]FIG. 5 shown the watch connected by means of the said device to anelastic box type watch strap;

[0021]FIG. 6 shown a watch connected to a watch strap made with anelastic box type structure in which the double stirrup structure isplaced between two components of the bracelet with which the elasticstrap is made;

[0022] It is understood that the drawings refer to the preferredembodiment of the invention, without constituting any limitation for it.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] In substance the invention consists in an attachment andadaptation device, with which a common bracelet 4 with a ring likeshape, composed of an elastic box type structure, is transformed into awatch strap. At the same time the invention allows bracelets of varyingwidths to be used as straps for the same watch 9.

[0024] Said device comprises a double stirrup structure 1, furnishedwith two slots 2 placed side by side and of an appropriate length forits coupling with the open ring like strips 3 of the bracelet 4,composed of an elastic box type structure, with which the watch strap ismade. Said device finally comprises two parts 5 that are normally alikeso that when they are applied to the attachment brackets of watch 9 theydo not create un-aesthetic asymmetries.

[0025] Each of the said parts 5 is in any case composed of a firstelement 6 that is appropriate for housing the system of telescope pivotpins with which it couples with the holes of the attachment brackets ofwatch 9; each part 5 is also composed of a second element 10, with anopen tubular structure along the line of the generatrix, firmly joinedto element 6. Said second element 10 is capable of connecting with thevisible stud 11 of the component at the extremity of the elastic boxtype bracelet 4, as well as with one of the studs that limit slots 2 ofthe double stirrup structure 1 (see FIG. 5).

[0026] Said double stirrup structure 1 is normally produced by stampingand is preferably a flat structure. The central core, which separatesthe two slots 2, is normally sufficiently wide to allow the applicationof wording, decorative or symbolic elements on it.

[0027] The parts 5 are instead each composed of two tubular trunks 6 and10 placed side by side, of which the first is made to house theattachment means of the watch brackets, the second is normally openalong the line of the generatrix to allow the insertion of a pin orstud. A stud as, for example, one of those that limit the slots 2 of thedouble stirrup 1, or the attachment stud 11 of the component 12 at theextremity of the bracelet 4, as happens with the left hand attachment ofthe watch shown in FIG. 5 and in both the attachments of the watch shownin FIG. 6.

[0028] The second element 10 of the parts 5 can assume various shapescapable in any case of wrapping around and holding the elongated stud.It can assume, for example, the shape of two minuscule openable rings,or it can assume other equivalent shapes.

[0029] In the production phase the invention can be modified in itscomponents, said modifications will in any case remain within the fieldof protection of the following claims.

1. A device for the attachment and adaptation of elastic box type watchstraps to watches, characterized by a double stirrup structure (1),equipped with two slots (2), and by two parts (5) that are normallyalike, each part (5) consisting of a first element (6), appropriate forhousing the system of telescope pivot pins with which it couples to theholes on the attachment brackets of the watch (9), and of a secondelement (10), firmly joined to the element (6), capable of joining withthe visible stud (11) of the end component of the elastic box typebracelet (4) and with the studs that limit the slots (2) of the doublestirrup structure (1).
 2. The device, as claimed in claim 1,characterized by a double stirrup structure (1) produced by stamping. 3.The device, as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a double stirrupstructure (1) equipped with a central core—which separates the two slots(2)—sufficiently wide to contain added decorative elements, letters orsymbols.
 4. The device, as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the factthat the parts (5) are alike, each consisting of two tubular trunks (6)and (10) placed next to each other.
 5. The device, as claimed in claim1, characterized by the fact that the tubular trunk (10) is open alongthe line of the generatrix.
 6. The device, as claimed in claim 1,characterized by the fact that the tubular trunk (10) of the parts (5)is structured so as to wrap around and hold an elongated stud.